Printing very badly

[1235672]

How do I clean the print heads on hp deskjet 3810e?

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @1235672 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

  

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Now, let's dive into the issue! Could you please elaborate on what's happening with your device? The more details you provide, the better we'll understand the problem and the faster we can resolve it! 

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Hawks_Eye

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[1235672]

• Hi I have tried all the clean functions and alignment tool but still not happy with the print. Each character has bits missing and smudged.

   

  See attached. 

Kind regards 

[1235672]

Deskjet 2810e

[Garp_senchau]

@1235672, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

Follow these steps to clean the print heads on your HP DeskJet 2810e:

Steps to Clean the Print Heads from Printer Software

Load Paper:

• Load letter or A4 unused plain white paper into the input tray.

Open Printer Software:

• Depending on your operating system:
  • Windows 8: On the Start screen, right-click an empty area, click All Apps on the app bar, and then click the icon with the printer's name.
  • Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP: From the computer desktop, click Start, select All Programs, click HP, click HP Deskjet 2810 series, and then click HP Deskjet 2810 series.

Access Printer Toolbox:

• In the printer software, click Print, Scan & Fax, and then click Maintain Your Printer to open the printer toolbox.

Clean Ink Cartridges:

• Click Clean Ink Cartridges on the Device Services tab and follow the on-screen instructions.

Additional Tips

• Use Original HP Cartridges: Ensure you are using original HP cartridges for best results.
• Aligning: If the print quality still seems poor after cleaning, align the printer cartridges through the printer software or the printer display.
• Avoid Unnecessary Cleaning: Only clean the print head when necessary as unnecessary cleaning wastes ink and shortens the life of the print head.

Reference:

HP inkjet printers - Alignment issues and errors | HP® Support

Printing an alignment page on an HP printer | HP® Support

User Guide (HP+)

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Regards,

[1235672]

Thank you for your help. Unfortunately I have tried all your suggestions and my results are the same. I am in the HP program so cartridge is from HP. I am beginning to wonder if the cartridge is faulty. I have wasted so much paper trying to sort this issue out, as a result I now pay more to HP. Not happy! 

[Kuroi_Kenshi · Accepted solution]

Hi @1235672,

I can imagine how annoying this must be, especially when you’ve tried all the solutions and you're still getting patchy, smudged prints. Let's go a step further and dig into this together.

Here’s what you can try next:

1. Check Cartridge Vents

Sometimes ink flow is blocked due to clogged or sealed vents. Here’s what to do:

Remove the cartridge.

Look at the top of the cartridge—there should be a small vent (tiny hole).

If it’s covered with a sticker or seems clogged, gently clean it with a pin or soft cloth.

Reinsert the cartridge and try printing again.

2. Manual Printhead Cleaning

Even though HP doesn't recommend it much, if you're desperate (and careful), you can:

Turn off the printer and remove the ink cartridges.

Dampen a lint-free cloth or paper towel with warm distilled water (not tap water).

Gently blot the printhead area (where the ink comes out) for a few seconds. Do not rub or use force.

Let it dry for a couple of minutes before reinserting the cartridges.

3. Run a Second or Third Cleaning Cycle

Sometimes the first clean doesn't fully fix it. HP printers often have 2–3 levels of cleaning:

Go back into the HP Smart App or printer software and check for a "Deep Clean" or "Second Level Clean" option.

If it’s not visible, repeat the normal cleaning cycle once or twice again.

4. Try Printing a Diagnostic Report

Let’s see if it’s really a hardware issue:

Open HP Smart app.

Go to “Printer Reports” or “Tools”, and print a “Print Quality Diagnostic” page.

If the black text looks faded or broken, it’s likely the black cartridge that’s faulty.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,